Stage 7 Briefing | Absa Cape Epic

Heading off the Coetzenburg Sports Fields, the course climbs steadily, then sharply for the first 15 kilometres. Ascending to one of the highest contour roads in Jonkershoek, you’ll be treated to amazing views across the valley, and if you look around, you’ll also see the faster or slower riders snaking down or up the trails below you, or across the valley. Never-Ending Story is the first singletrack of the final stage, and remains an icon within an iconic mountain biking destination. After descending two-thirds of the length of Never-Ending Story, the first water point 23 kilometres in, provides some much-needed fuel for the climb back up to the Red Phoenix trail head. Valley Trail then leads you to the southern side of the Jonkershoek Valley, where the north-facing slope bakes in the Stellenbosch sunshine. Bosluis and the Quarry Road climb ascend so you can descend on Fire Hut to the MTO Forestry Station gate, Water Point 2, and the first spectator point of the day, after 35 kilometres of racing. The Dentist and Jonkersdrift take you from Jonkershoek back to Coetzenburg, where you pass within 100 metres of the finish line for a southern loop of trails. Just above the race village, the Ertjieskloof (Pea Valley) Dam serves as a water point and spectator point. From there, just 13 kilometres of the 22nd Absa Cape Epic remain. Gum Up is steep and tricky, and the Gum Traverse is rugged and unmanicured, but they take you into Eden for a blast down a spectacular singletrack to the final USN Hydro of the race, at the 51-kilometre mark. A last climb, in the shade of the Eden Pines, leads back towards Stellenbosch central and the fabled G-Spot. Stage 7’s Toyota Tough is arguably among the world’s most iconic trails, but don’t get over-excited; it can be easy to overshoot a jump or overcook a berm flying along the hard-packed, hand-built trail. The final 3 kilometres trend downhill, through the XCO track – where Sam Gaze and Annika Langvad claimed victories in the Epic World Cup in 2018 – to the final finish line. 🔔 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: 🌐 Visit our website to access more content: https://www.epic-series.com/ 📲 And Follow us on all our social networks: Instagram: www.instagram.com/capeepic/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/capeepic Twitter: twitter.com/capeepic